Basic Level Certification

Overview

The Basic Level certification is an entry-level certification for emergency managers. This level of certification requires a total of 300 hours of training.

Those who have earned Basic Level certification are entitled to use the BLEM designation.

2024 certification rules
new: 2024 Blem - Alem applicant certification workbook

Required Courses

 Beginning May 1, 2024, the following will be the new required core training, and help align new EMs with the EMPG funding requirements:

  • IS-5 An Introduction to Hazardous Materials

  • IS-100 Introduction to Incident Command

  • IS-120 An Orientation to Community Disaster Exercises

  • IS-200 ICS for Single and Initial Action Incidents

  • IS-230.d Fundamentals of Emergency Management

  • IS-235.c Emergency Planning

  • IS-240.c Leadership and Influence

  • IS-241.c Decision Making and Problem Solving

  • IS-242.c Effective Communication

  • IS-244.b Developing and Managing Volunteers

  • IS-317.a Introduction to Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)

  • IS-700.b An Introduction to the National Incident Management System

  • IS-800.d National Response Framework, an Introduction

  • IS-2000 National Preparedness Goal and System Overview

  • IS-2500 National Prevention Framework, an Introduction

  • IS-2600 National Protection Framework, an Introduction

  • IS-2700 National Mitigation Framework, an Introduction

  • IS-2900.a National Disaster Recovery Framework, an Introduction

  • IS-2901 Introduction to Community Lifelines

  • Q-890 Emergency Response to Terrorism. Course is offered through the U.S. Fire Administration: https://apps.usfa.fema.gov/nfacourses/catalog/details/67

Additional Requirements

In addition to the required courses, this level of certification requires:

  • A total of 200 hours of 'core' curriculum (FEMA and other emergency management training). The required training courses count toward the 200 hour total.

  • A total of 100 hours of 'optional' training. Optional training includes other public safety and general management training and education.